BALTIMORE — What do you do one day after scoring a club record 17 runs? Don't make any changes!

Indeed, the Nationals lineup for this afternoon's game against the Orioles is identical to last night's lineup (aside from the pitcher's spot, of course). Can't fault Jim Riggleman's logic there. We'll just have to wait and see whether there's any carryover from last night's explosion, or whether they revert back to their previous form.

Whether they hit or not, the Nats need to get another quality outing from John Lannan, who was good in his last two appearances after that horrible start in Philadelphia earlier this month. He hasn't earned a win since April 20, though. Perhaps his teammates will reward him with some run support today.

My question still hasn't been answered: if Stairs manages to get on base then what? The last time he was left there he got picked off. And he had almost no lead off the bag? The guy is that slow … and since he is the DH you usually don't pinch run for him? If he's that slow have to assume his swing has also slowed significantly just in the past year?In other words Stairs can't even be a DH at this point in his career and continues to be the biggest hole in the lineup.

Morse got a hit in last night's game; LaRoche didn't. Maybe Uncle Jimmy didn't notice amongst all the pyrotechnics going on from the Nats' side.Might be a favor to LaRoche to let Morse play a few games there.Goooooooooooo Nats!!Let's have another 17 run romp!!

Yeah I would definitely keep LaRoche at 1B today.Not sure why Morse can't DH though.I guess they want to get Stairs another 8 at-bats or so before they let him go (preferably he'll simply hang it up).Go Nats!

There just seems no question but that we are seeing the end of the major league playing days of Matt Stairs. Maybe we could get off his back, hope he can get out with some dignity, and bless him on his way? A graceful exit plan has surely been earned here, and I have to believe he is going to get it. And before someone types in a snarky comment about how he missed that window a while ago, maybe hold the comment till we see who gets taken off the 25 man to make room for no longer injured players. Let's form a little metaphorical baseball honor guard for him to get some memorable last at bats, and take up coaching.

JaneB,Its not so much Stairs: (Okay so its another chewing raw aspirin post? Sorry about that Chief.) Its more about the hypocrisy? Here we are told that the 3,4,5 of last yearhad to be broken up so that the team could be a better fielding, more athletic team. Albeit, that 3,4,5 along with Morse might not have been the best fielding (with the exception of Zim) but there was a lot of synergy between those players. And they made no bones about that fact when they talked about staying together? And their hitting was popularwith fans even if the final result was still a last place finish. Look at how poorly they've done since breaking up the 3,4, 5?So, in order to get better, to help the pitch-to-contact pitching staff they needed to get more athletic, speed, and better fielding? That is what we were told? Correct me if I'm wrong?So, if that's true please explain Matt Stairs on this roster … NO SPEED he gets picked off of first base and so now Rig always pinch runs for him. NO ATHLETICISM, ZERO fielding. And he can't even hit anymore? And please before you bring up needing the "veteran influence" to help build a winning atmosphere. See the above paragraph in which the synergy between Dunn, Willingham and Zim is discussed. That was lost so we could have Matt Stairs? Does anyone actually believe this guy provides the same kind of synergy they did? I could keep going and start with Rick Ankiel, who in my opinion, can't hold a candle to Roger Bernadina. Jerry Hairston isn't all that athletic, al that fast (We've just seen him pull a bone headed base running play where he tried to steal third?). Alex Cora? I mean c'mon it begins to look too much like a Riggleman baseball celebrity golf tour versus attempting to field a team that can be competitive in the NL East.I'm not going to repeat the litany of reasons why the lineups Riggleman produces look AAAA as I've been told its like eating raw aspirin …what I will say is don't you see the hypocrisy in the supposed make over of this season's squad versus what they had last year. The only real improvement is in the starting pitching. Lannan is no longer the defacto ace. I believe it could be a lot better were it not for Riggleman's odd choices of Broderick and Chad Gaudin for starters. I believe there are starters in AAA right now (and they will soon add another) that are better than 3 out of 5 of the current starting rotation. We've already seen vast improvement with H-Rod and Cole Kimball. Instead of ex-washed-up-Cincinatti-Reds we are getting too many former St. Louis Cardinal org types and Dodger types because of Rig. It doesn't add up given the philosophy that Rizzo claims to espouse. It makes it look like he is being dishonest with the fan base.

I am among the many who always appreciates the positive tone that JaneB displays here. And I wouldn't ever advocate for Stairs to be sent on his way with raspberries from the home fans. However, it's pretty clear to everyone that his time as a player is up, and like many players he may need a bit of a push (and the club may need more of a push to give him that push) to get him to hang 'em up.As I have noted here before, I've never seen this as a win-now year, so Stairs' outs aren't really directly hurting anything this season. But they may be indirectly hurting things in the big picture of someone else getting major-league experience, and worse of the overall tone of someone getting a roster spot and playing time when they clearly can't hack it.This post probably won't get me on the honor guard Jane mentions, but I do wish him well, and I hope for his sake and the team's that he can pull a Crash Davis: Hit a dinger and hang 'em up.

Re JaneB's post on an honorable departure: When Mr. Ankiel is ready to return, Mr.Stairs should be given the opportunity to retire in lieu of being DFA'ed. Until then, if Washington is really trying to win some ballgames, Mr. Morse or Mr. Nix should be the DH and Mr. Stairs can remain the pinch hitter of last resort.

Only thing I disagree with today is the DH? Are you suppose to use your best non fielder to hit? Seems like Marquis should be the DH.Mark if you get a chance ask Riggleman if he considered it. IN college non playing pitchers DH often.

Manassas Nats Fan: Riggleman was asked about the possibility the last time Marquis pitched and made it clear he would never do that (use a pitcher as his DH). Plus, after his little tiff with Marquis in the dugout last night, I can't imagine Jim is going to be doing him any favors.

I can respect Matt Stairs history in the game. What I am more concerned with is how the Nationals build their own though. It is about time we stop being the last stop on the long career of average players and start competing.

Lannan gets a 2-0 lead, then promptly walks the leadoff hitter, then falls 3 and 0 behind a guy who's just up from Norfolk, who crushes a tying homer to left.Did he learn NOTHING from Marquis' meltdown last night? I would get Kimball up NOW.Good Lord, I hate watching this raging mediocrity pitch. Can't wait until Ray, Cole and Pick 6 consign Lannan to his richly deserved obscurity.

Win or lose, John Lannan has been the one pitcher in major league baseball I have liked watching least. No other pitcher make me as anxious when I watch them on the mound. It always feels like a batting practice session is about to break out when he pitches, even when he wins. I would never root against him and I was happy when he seemed to improve in the second half of last year, but I long for the day we no longer need him in the rotation every 5 days.

Mark,I thought the object of the game was to win. If Marquis is a much better hitter than Stairs at this point, it seems to me Riggleman doesn't want to do the best thing to win.Tiffs are things my school girls have. Not professionals.I must admit I would have Marquis hitting in a heart beat, as at this point he vastly superior to Stairs.

I'm with JaneB on Stairs. I don't like to hear people rooting for players to be fired. Agree with Sec 3, My Sofa on Morse. LaRoche is better defensively; Morse is average at best. I don't see how Riggleman can be lying to anybody about anything when he didn't put the roster together.

I don't see how Riggleman can be lying to anybody about anything when he didn't put the roster together.Riggleman had as much if not more to do with picking this roster than Rizzo. Sorry but Stairs, etc. that's Riggleman.As far as Morse he used to be a major league shortstop. That tells me that he is probably an above average fielder at first base.

JaneB, I understand your point, but the roster is supposed to be filled with players who help you win games; Stairs isn't helping and the message the fans, and those on the roster, are getting is that production doesn't matter; management makes its decision then puts is head in a hole and stays the course. KIts unacceptable. Waiting for Stairs to have a glory game so he can walk away with his head held high is something for a lifetime afternoon movie, not a major league team. You want Stairs to go away classy? Then have him hold a press conference and say I can't do it anymore, its my time to move on, and maybe he gets a coaching gig. The guy cannot hit anymore and at some point the excuses have to stop and we need to stop wasting this roster space. He might be a nice guy but there are alot of nice guys out there.

Agree with Ernie about Lannan.With the Nats moving forward, he's kind of a leftover now I believe. Any pitcher with his type of stuff absolutely must be a control artist (walk fewer than 3 per 9IP), and he isn't.I like him and appreciate what he did a few years ago, but it's time to let someone else get a shot.Who knows, maybe he'd make a good long reliever.

Guess Mark's not in the honor guard either, given his tweet after Stairs' GIDP. ;^)Stairs again is Riggleman's idea. Even FP SantAngelo spoke to how Riggleman is more interested in getting his starters credit for the 'W' then winning. Most managers, he said, are interested in getting the 'W'.I think we as fans deserve a manager who is interested in getting the 'W'. Not someone who creates celebrity golf tours.

It is about time we stop being the last stop on the long career of average players and start competing.YES. And so count me out on Jane B's idea. Fans spend way too much money on season tickets as it is. They deserve better IMHO.>

Some of our favorite bad habits are back RISP deficiency. Matt Stairs doubled the pleasure of his at bat last time. Had chance to get off my bad list instead he hits into a double play. Still stand by having Marquis as DH over Stairs. Not sure why Riggleman thinks he is going to produce? Have seen nothing to make me believe it. Making me wonder about RIggleman's judgment.

@fpcsteve, How about Tom Boswell? Will that suffice?SEC 114, ROW EBos, we lost a game in Atlanta last week because we had 2 pitchers (Broderick and Hot-Rod) that the manager didn't trust – which means all of the other pitchers were burned out before the game even started. Is that Riggs' fault for not trusting/just using what he has? Or, is this one on Rizzo for not giving the manager useful players? Of course, since then they DFA'd Broderick and Hot Rod seems to have it sorted out. For now… Speaking of hard throwers, have you seen the numbers from Aroldis Chapman's last 2 outings? 7 walks, 1 HBP, and recorded 1 out.A.THOMAS BOSWELL :My impression is that Rig and his staff were high on Broderick and Gaudin. To me, Broderick was a waste of time. A nice story but never going to be more than a fifth starter and the Nats have 17 of them. Gaudin? Look at the back of his baseball card. No chance he gets better. Others (me among them) prefered Kimball and thought the staff was poorly built, which would be on Rig and his coaches. But we're past that now. This is the pitching roster I'd prefer. Bottom line if you actually believe that Rizzo, he who continuously professes to want a more athletic squad with more speed … and better fielding would pick Matt Stairs? Then I have a bridge to sell you that crosses the Potomac … you could even name it Clip'nStore.

(for those who aren't watching the MASN mixed broadcast–FP was pointing out that the player of the game choices for fans to text their votes on contained no Nats, but yesterday, there was an O's option. Flanagan then asked him who he'd put, and that was that.)

For those of you thinking that Lannan will soon be replaced by someone else keep in mind that the best pitcher at AAA this year has been Craig Stammen. For those of you touting Ray and Cole keep in mind that they are both 18 years old pitching in A ball and neither one of them is projected as a top of the rotation starter. So far this year the best organization guy has been Brad Peacock who has been an absolute strike out machine as AA but nothing in his history explains his sudden ascent; he has put down pedestrian numbers at every level until this year. My point is that the best 5 starters in the organization are pitching in DC and for the most part pitching pretty well.

JD- Thanks! (forgot I had the minor league stats bookmarked) Perhaps at least Maya couldn't be any worse than Lannan? I haven't seen Maya pitch since late last season, but I'm hoping he can contribute something to the big club before too long.

Just got back from B'more. Here's what I don't understand, Lannan struggled most of the game and Riggles could have gone to the bullpen after the 5th or 6th with a 4-2 lead keeping it close. When it went to 8-2, the game was basically over.

Anon at 7:32. Sorry; your analysis presupposes that minor league hitters are at the same level as major league hitters then you proceed to lump AA stats with AAA stats;note that Meyers stats were significantly better at AA than AAA.My point is that no one at AAA is dominating to the point where they would make a significant upgrade at the major league level. We already knew that many of our pitchers were at roughly equal levels and no one not named Strasburg or Zimmermann is a potential top of the rotation starter.

Random semi-rant:So Fox is showing NY Mets vs NY Yanks for their game of the week. Big surprise.I'd be curious to know how many times they've featured those 2 teams as well as Philly and Boston.One might think MLB consisted of 4 teams…I would seriously (I'm not joking at all) rather watch the Astros, Twins or D-Backs than any of the above teams.

It is time for Stairs to go. Let him retire, fine, whatever – but he's taking up space and is virtually an automatic out (or worse) at this point. I just can't take watching his ABs anymore. I thought the backwards Ks were awful – but today's critical GIDP was the last straw. It's ugly out there and he's absolutely killing us. He's got to go. Now.

2 things I hate:1. Matt Stairs batting and on our roster taking up space. We don't owe him anything. He's not a Nat. We didn't watch him grow up. Good-bye and good riddance! Don't let the clubhouse door hit you in the azz on the way out!2. Mixed broadcasting booth. Why does MASN do this when we are two separate cities and have 2 separate channels, MASN and MANS2. Always seemed contrived to me. Too much "love" between the announcers. I've written to MASN about this yet they don't listen. I hate this more than Matt Stairs batting!!!Go Nats!!!

Yes, I'll throw my hat in the ring and say I do like Mike Flanagan as announcer and always have. Of course I am also the one who immediately posted my huge like for FP defending our turf. Something even the beloved Dibble would not do. Yep he's a keeper IMHO. As for JD and his "analysis" of minor league pitching.Dude check out Kimball's and H-Rod's stats. At the same level? Hate to be the harbinger of bad news but you are WRONG just based on looking at what they did there and what they are doing now in the majors.Lannan is far, far worse at pretty much everything compared to Meyers and Peacock at this juncture. All management is looking at is whether they can be consistent. Meyers has been … with Peacock the jury is still out. But both are "lights out" by comparison with Marquis, Lannan, and Livo. Zimmermann has talent as does Gorzelanny … Now onto Maya and Stammen. They have been pitching deep into games and Syracuse had less offense than the Nats! In fact the worst in professional baseball? Maya has Livo's tricks plus good velocity on pitches when needed. Stammen has been steadily improving since his return to the rotation. I pick them hands down over Lannan. Lannan has one advantage in that he is left handed. I don't see that keeping him on the roster past the All Star break. You heard it here first dude.

I haven't seen enough of his broadcasts (just these two) to say whether or not I like Flanagan, but he did make me laugh a few times. FP, otoh, is growing on me, and I missed him when he was out with strep throat.